Automatic wrench



H.. JOHNSTON.

AUTOMATIC WRENCH. 'APPLICATION FILED sEPT.22, 1921.

Patented Sept.. 12, 1922.

/Q'Mlllllb/l., q ummmelll' Y//m 264;* /4 .25 4/ Z// if!! r l "A" Patented Sept. 12, 1922.

UNITED STATES l anatre Parana rarer.

iJArMAa JOHNSTON, or DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

AUTOMATIC WRENCH. p'

Applieation filed September 22, 1921. Serial 'No'. 502,420.

T o all wh-omi 'it may concern:

Be it'- known that I, HJ'ALMAR JOHNSTON, a citizen of the United States,` residing at Duluth, in the county of St. Louis andState i of Minnesota, .have invented cert-ain. new and useful Improvements in Automatic l/Vrenches, kot which the following is a specification.

This invention wrenches.

The primary object of the invention `is the provision of. af wrench/including fxed4 and slidable jaws whereby the slidable jaw is normally forced to support a piece of work intermediate the fixed and slidable Jaws'.

-' A further object of the invention is the provision of a wrench4 including fixed and slidable jaw structures', in which the slidable jaw is normally forced by spring means toward ther fixed jaw, and including spring operated means Jfor manual control to ylock the sliding. jaw inpredetermined fixed relation. c

Other objects and advantages will be ap parent during the course' of the following detailed description.

Ink the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification', and in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure k1 is ai sidel elevation or the improvedvrrench;` l

Figure 2 is a side elevation of. the improved wrenoh, showing certain portions thereor removedr Figure 3f is a cross sectional View taken onV the' linevv Bee-3f oi Figure 2.

Figure e is a crossv sectional view taken f on the line of Figure 2.

In the: drawingg.y wherein for the purpose-vy ofY illustration is shown thel preferred embodiment of` my invention; the letter A des. ignates a fixed. jawstructure;ll B, a sliding jaw structure and C., spring operated plunger means# for coopera-ting with "the fixed and sliding; jaw' structures; to performy workl upon" nuts', bolts, and the' like The fixed jaw structure A includes the jiaw head 1Y0 and the stem preferably integra/l1. and rigid therewitht ltis preferred, that the enti-1rewrenelr be made or some metal to: provide ai compactl and durable structuren AWith this endV in: view the stem 11i." has l been Aposi/'tiened? 1 to one*Y sidel or the relates"l to automatic head 10. The stein 11 is provided upon the end opposite the head 10with an enlarged hand grip 13 and which is odset slightly at 13EL upon the end of the stem 11 opposite that end from whichthe fixed j aw head 10y projects. A recess 1d is yprovided longitudinally' in the stem yand extending through the hand grip portion 13 where the same is of greater width than that 'portion of the same intermediate the head 10.` A groove 15 isprovided in a side' 1G of the stern 11 immediately kadjacent the' fixed head 10,y said groove 15, however, being of only such depth that the bottom 17 thereof is spaced just above the bottom 18 of the recess 141, inorder to provide the recess 14; of continuous length. A groove 19 is likewise provided in the offset portion 13l of the handle 13 vand in the side/20, said groove 19 beingl cut in such manner asy tor` provide a` pair of shoulders 21 and -22 in said groove and one at each end thereof, the top of the shoulders terminating below thefouterfmargin24, of the side 2O in which the groove 19 is formed. It is preferred, that all sides of the stem 11, which go to malreup the recess 111 be of the saine height, withtheexception of the grooves 15 and 19 in the sides, in order that all attachingyedges thereof may lie in the saine plane. Various apertures 25Kare tapped in the attaching edges ofk the sides of 'stem 11. A depression 26 is formed in the head 10 adjacent that side of the stem 11 in which the recess lllfis `formed; said depression 26 having a tapped aperture 27 y therein. i i

A cover 30 is provided as part of the fixed j aw "structure A and is for use in connection with the stern 11 to provide an enclosed casing ofk the same.` The 'cover 8O preferably includes the forward portion 31 for engagement over that portion of the stem 11 adjacent the fixed head 10; a projection 32 being formed upon the extreme forward end of the portion 311011 lying in the depression 26 of head 10, said projection having any aperture therein for align"- mcnt with the tappedpaperture 27. A hand grip portion 33 of the cover 30 is provided, similar in appearance, and for cooperation with the hand grip portion 13` of stem 11 to provide a handengaging end on the wrenchstructure.y The inside of the hand engaging portion 33 is arcuatelyrecessed as at 34e, for practically its entire length, the

same being forwardly provided with a rivet 35 for engaging the end of a spiral spring 3G. The spring 36 is of such tensioning as to be drawn upward when in inactive position adjacent its connecting pin 35 and within the groove 34. Suitable screws 37 are provided for engagement in the cover 30 and for adjustment in the tapped apertures 25 and 27 in the fixed jaw structure A, whereby the cover 30 may be detachably assembled for enclosing the recess 14.

The sliding jaw structure B is of special formation, and includes the jaw head40, and the shank 41 rigidly connected therewith by an offset portion 42. This jaw head 40 is of much greater thickness than the shank 41; the shank 41 being, in fact, provided for disposition within the recess 14 of the fixed jaw structure A, in such manner that the offset portion 42 projects through the groove 15, whereby the sliding aw structure B may be reciprocated with respect to the fixed jaw structure AA. The shank 41 is shorter in length than the length of recess 14, and is provided upon one side thereof, and on the end remote from head 40 with a semi-circular depression 43, which faces the depression 34 in the cover 80, when in assembled position. A pin 44 is provided in the very end of this recess 43 and for connection to an end of the spiral spring 36v above mentioned. Thus, the normal tendency of the spring 86 is to draw the shank 41 forwardly in its recess or pocket 14, whereby the head 40 ofy the sliding jaw structure B may be forced into engagement with the head 10 of the fixed aw structure A. Attention is called to the fact that the sliding jaw head 40 is relatively longer than the fixed jaw head 10 to secure a better cooperating grip upon the shank or bolt head. A portion 45 ofthe head 40 projects rearwardly to overlie the side 16 of stem 11, whereby the slot 19 may be covered as the head 40 slides toward head 10, to prevent entrance of foreign material which might bind in the fixed aw structure pocket. j

A slot 46 is provided in a side of the stem 11, for `projection of a knurled thumb piece 47 a which engages in rigid manner from the shank 41 of sliding jaw structure B, and whereby 'the aw structure B may be manually reciprocated.

Referring now to the means C, the same preferably includes a plunger member 47 adapted for reciprocation in the slot 19 in the hand grip portion of stem 11. The ends of the member 47 are grooved as at 48 for the reception of the shoulders 21 and 22, whereby the member 47 is prevented from displacement. The inside face 50 of the plunger 47 is provided with teeth having abrupt faces 51 faced toward the jaws of the wrench, the inclined surfaces 52 of the teeth slallting from the abrupt faces 51 awayfrom the jaw head. The' side of the shank 41 facing the plunger member 47 is likewise provided with teeth 54, for cooperation with the teeth of the plunger member 47. These teeth 54 are formed in such manner that they incline away from the jaw head of the wrenchto provide abrupt faces 55 facing toward the member 47.

Springs 57 are provided in suitable apertures in each of the projections 21 and 22 and normally under compression to engage a side of the slots 48 to compel said plunger member 47 to be out of engagement with the teeth ofshank 41. y

l1n operation, the user grasps the wrench at the handle grip, in such manner that the projecting portion 5S of the plunger member 47 lies in the palm of the hand. The operator next engages thel knurled thumb piece 4" with his thumb and draws the same toward his hand, which of course, hasthe effect of parting thej aw heads 10 and 40. 1When the nut or bolt has been placed between the facing article' engaging surfaces of the aw heads 10 and 40, the operator releases` the thumb piece 47a. lmmediately the spring 36 will assert itself and slide thev shank 41 in the recess 14, whereby the head 40 is brought into sharp engagement with 'the bolt or nut, and said bolt or nut is engaged through the article engaging surfaces of theljaw heads 10 and 40. The operator now depresses the plunger member 47 and when the wrench is cscillatcd,v the jaws will grip 'the nut or bolt for performing the operation desired. 1t can readily be seen that the teethupon the plunger member 47 and teeth upon the shank 41 cooperate to provide a locking engagement, whereby forces incident to performing the work will be transmitted directly through' the sliding jaw into the'member 47, which of course is prevented from movingzlongitudinally of the wrench, due to its snug sliding fit within the groove 19y of the `fixed jaw structure. r v f From the -foregoing it can be'seen that a wrench has 'been provided, in which compactness and ease of operation are 'important features.' The 'casing as provided `by the fixed aw structurcinsures complete housing 115 of the operating parts of the'wrench, wherein theyl are protected from any foreign material which might bind the working parts.

Various changes in the shape, size andarrangement of parts may be made to the form 120 of the invention' herein shown and described, without departing-from the` spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

1. A wrench, comprising in combination 125 a fixed jaw having `a casing rigid therewith,

a sliding jaw including a shank rigid therewith, said shank being entirely positionedin said casing for-concealed sliding therein, means engaging said casing and -shanklfor 130 forcing said sliding aw toward said fixed jaw, and means for locking said sliding jaw in predetermined relation to the casing.

2. A wrench, comprising in combination a fixed jaw including a recessed stem rigid therewith, a detachable cap for positioning on said stem to provide a casing, a sliding jaw including a shank for entire concealment and reciprocation within said casing, a spring'y within said casing engaging said sliding jaw shank and xed jaw casing to force said sliding jaw toward said ixed jaw, and spring controlled plunger means for manual operation to engage said shank and hold said sliding jaw in predetermined relation to the fixed aw.

3. A wrench, comprising a iixed jaw structure including a casing with a hand grip, a sliding jaw structure including a shank rigid therewith for reciprooation in said casing, and having a hand engaging member projecting from a side vof said casing for movement of the sliding jaw structure relative to the fixed jaw structure, spring means in said casing for normally forcing said sliding jaw toward said fixed jaw, and spring controlled plunger means in said casing including a portion projecting from said'hand grip for manual depression to lock the same in engagement with said sliding jaw structure.

4. A wrench,.comprising a jaw having a casing rigid therewith, a second jaw including a shank rigid therewith, said shank being disposed within said casing for concealed sliding therein to position said jaws in various relative positions and means in said casing for normally maintaining said jaws in a definite relation.

5. A wrench, comprising in combination a iixed jaw structure including a head and a recessed shank offset to one side thereof, a cover for said recessed shank to provide a pocket, a movable jaw structure including a jaw head and a shank offset therefrom and rigid therewith, said shank adapted fory positioning within the recess ot' said iixed jaw structure and for sliding therein, the end of said shank opposite said head being provided with teeth, a spring engaging said shank adjacent the teeth thereon and said cover and operable in depressions in said shank and cover for normally forcing said slidable jaw head toward said fixed jaw head, a plunger member having teeth upon a face thereon for cooperation with the teeth of said shank, spring means for mounting said plunger in the fixed jaw casingto hold the teeth thereof out of engagement 4with the shank teeth, and to provide a portion of said plungerv projecting from said casing, said plunger adapted for manual operation to lock the teeth thereof for engagement in the teeth of said shank to position said sliding aw structure in predetermined relation to said fixed jaw structure.

6. A wrench, comprising a aw having a casing rigid therewith, a second jaw including a shank rigid therewith which is entirely disposed within said casing for concealed sliding therein, resilient means within said casing engaging said shank for maintaining ksaid aws in a deiinite relation, and means for locking said sliding jaw in predetermined relation to the casino.

HJALMAR JOHNSTON. 

